Public medical services were curtailed today when doctors began a work slow-down to protest the four percent cut in the health budget which will lead to the dismissal of many specialists on short term contracts. The out-patient departments of all public hospitals were closed, except those treating soldiers and surgery was postponed except in emergency cases.
The doctors have also held up discharging patients which is expected to put a severe strain on hospital facilities in as much as there will be insufficient beds for new patients. A scot work stoppage is planned for tomorrow. The doctors warned that if any of them receive a dismissal notice, all physicians in the hospital involved would tender their resignations.
The doctors have charged that the Health Ministry made no effort to resist the budget cut one noted that Health Minister Eliezer Stostak was out of the country when the government took that action.
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